Combined closure, lock, and coin-receiving mechanism.



H. E. mus. COMBINED CLOSURE, LOCK, AND COIN RECEIVING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Sept. 10, 1900.)

No. 665,353. I Patented Ian. I, I90l.

(No Model.)

W/TNESSEjwLd ZMNm) we NORRIS PETERS co, PHOfmLITHQ. WASHINGTON, DV 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HENRY ELLWOOD TITUS, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO EMMA W. TITUS, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED CLOSURE, LOCK, AND COIN-RECEIVING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,353, dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed September 10, 1900- $eria1lTo. 29,544. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LHENRY ELLWOOD TITUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined 010- sure, Lock, and Coin-Receiving Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined closures, locks, and coin-receiving mechanisms; and it has for its object to provide a closure and locking means therefor and a coin-receiving mechanism wherein the locking means and coin-receiving mechanism are associated in the construction and operation and wherein the coin-receiving mechanism can only perform its office when the locking means are in operative locking position.

A particular object of the invention is the provision of a coin-slotted receptacle or member thereof witha coin-receiving mechanism arranged with respect to the coin-slot and operating the locking means for the receptacle or member thereof and which mechanism itself is operated in apredetermined manner by the insertion of a key or other implement through the coin-slot.

In a preferred construction in which the locking means embody the coin receiving mechanism, or vice versa, the parts are preferably arranged in operative position so that all the features of the locking means are hidden from view, and the double obscurity arising from such arrangement of parts and from the presumptive absence of any relation of the coin-receiving mechanism to any locking means gives to the device the function of a trick or puzzle mechanism.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a receptacle and closure therefor constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the closure illustrated in Fig. 1 with the locking means and coin-receiving mechanism in inoperative position. Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view of the closure with the locking means and coin-receiving mechanism in inoperative position.

Corresponding reference-numerals denote the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated at 5 a receptacle which may be of any preferred form and in the present instance represents the body portion of a coin-receptacle or bank. 6 designates the closure or cover thereof, which is provided with depending side flanges 7, which with the cover in operative position depend within and fit the sides of the receptacle-body. The cover may be readily detached for the purpose of emptying the contents of the receptacle.

The general reference character 8 designates the combined locking means and coinreceiving mechanism, which is pivotally supported, as at 9, at the inner or under side of the cover or closure. The cover or closure is provided at one side of the point of pivotal support 9 of the locking means and coin-receiving mechanism with a transverse coinslot 10.

The combined locking means and coin-receiving mechanism 8 consists principally of a body member 11, which is preferably of integral construction, being formed from a rigid metallic plate 12, the side edges of which are bent downwardly and outwardly to constitute locking-fingers 13, which in their operative position are projected between shoulders or ledges 14, formed upon or secured to the inner opposite sides of the receptaclebody 5. y The plate 12 is, as above described, pivoted at 9 beneath the closure or cover 6 and is provided with a transverse coin-slot 15, adapted to exactly register with the coinslot 10 at a predetermined point of the pivotal play of the combined locking means and coin-receiving mechanism. The coin-slot 15 is Therefore formed eccentrically of the point of pivotal support of the plate 12 and is preferably of the exact size and form of the coinslot 10.

In forming the body member 11 the plate 12 is preferably bent outwardly and inwardly, as at 16, to form a protective wing for the coin-slot 10, the purpose of which is hereinafter disclosed, and is thence bent upwardly to form a shoulder or support 17 for a coinreceiving tube 18, which surrounds and exactly fits the coin-slot 15 and is secured at its edges to the plate 12 and at its side to the shoulder 17.

It will he noted that with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the two slots 10 and 15 are in exact registration, whereby a coin may be deposited therethrough and through the cointube 18 into the receptaclebody, and that the locking-fingers 13 are in operative position relative to the shoulders or ledges ll. \Vith the parts in this position the closure or cover 6 is locked to the receptacle-body 5 and suitable coins may readily be deposited through the coin-slot and int the receptacle. I

If the parts be relatively adjusted to as sume the position shown in Figs. 3 and at, the cover may be readily removed from the receptacle-body and the coin-slots 10 and 15 are out of perfect registration, precluding the entrance of a coin therethrough.

The coin-slots l0 and 15 are, as illustrated, of elongated form, and, as stated, both are arranged eccentrically with respect to the point of pivotal support of the combined looking means and coin-receiving mechanism.

In order to relatively adjust the parts into the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and l, the combined locking means and coin-receiving mechanism must be pivotally swung by suitably operating the plate 12 and parts carried thereby. To accomplish this movement, a suitable key or other implement is passed through the coin-slots l0 and 15 and into the coin-tube 18, and the plate 12 and parts carried thereby are pivotally swung. It results, however, from the eccentric arrangement of the coin-slots 10 and 15 with respect to the pivotal point 9, and from the elongated form of said coin-slots, that the key must be inserted exactly in the center of the coin-slots, and thus inserted and turned it will swing the desired parts to move the coin-slots out of perfect registration and in such movement will itselfbe moved longitudinally of the coin-slot 10. If the key be inserted eccentrically of the coin-slots and operated for the purpose of swinging the desired parts, it will become locked and jammed against the edge of the coin-slot 10, and thus defeat its purpose. This eccentric arrangement of the coin-slots with respect to the pivotal point of the plate 12 and the resultant difficulty to the uninitiated in the manipulation of the parts renders the operation of detaching the closure or cover consequent upon disengagement of the locking-fingers 13 and shoulders 14: extremely diflicult and puzzling. The coinslots 10 and 15 when in registration do not appear to have any office associated with the detachment of the closure or cover, and to still furtheradd to the puzzling nature of the device in this respect the cover and body of the receptacle are preferably closed, as illustrated, upon all sides to obscure the working parts of the device.

The protective wing 16 prevents insertion of an.implement at the corresponding side of the coin-slot l0 and engagement with the corresponding edge of the plate 12 to manipulate the parts in the unlocking movement in any but the desired and normal manner.

The improved device described with the parts in operative and coin-receiving position is substantially proof against entrance to any but such as are initiated in its operation. The entire device is simple, inexpensive in manufacture, and durable.

It is manifest that I may considerably vary and modify the construction and arrangement of parts herein specified in adapting the device to varying conditions of use, and I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The herein-described device, comprising a receptacle, a closure therefor, and locking means for the closure embodying a coin-receiving member, the construction and relative arrangement of parts being such that the coin-receiving member may be operated to effect the locking or unlocking of the closure with respect to the receptacle.

2. The herein-described device, comprising a receptacle, a closure therefor, and locking means for the closure embodying a coin-receiving member provided with a coin-slot, the construction and relative arrangement of parts being such that a key may be inserted in said coin-slot to effect the operation of the locking means.

3. The herein-described device, comprising a receptacle, a closure therefor, the closure being provided with a coin-slot, and locking means for the closure embodying a coin-re- .ceiving member provided with a coin-slot arranged for registration with the coin slot in the closure, the construction and relative arrangement of parts being such that a key may be inserted in said coin-slots when the same are in registration, to effect the operation of the locking means.

4. The herein-described device, comprising a receptacle, a closure therefor, the closure being provided with a coin-slot, and locking means pivoted to the closure and embodying a coin-receiving member provided with a coinslot arranged eccentrically with respect to the point of pivotal support of the locking means and also arranged for registration with the coin-slot in the closure, the construction and relative arrangement of parts being such that a key may be inserted in said coin-slots, when the same are in registration, to effect the operation of the locking means.

5. The herein-described device, comprising a closure or similar support provided with a coin-slot, and locking means pivoted to the closure and embodying a coin-receiving member provided with a coin-slot arranged for registration with said first-named coin-slot, said coin-slots being both arranged eccentrically with respect to the point of pivotal support of said locking means, and said locking means being provided with a protective wing or guard which operates with respect to the coin-slot in the closure.

6. The herein-d escribed device, comprising a closure or similar support provided with a coin-slot, and locking means pivoted to the closure and embodying a coin-receiving member provided with a coin-slot arranged for registration with said first-named coin-slot, said coin-slots being both arranged eccentrically with respect to the point of pivotal support of said locking means.

7. The herein-described device, comprising a closure or similar support provided with a coin-slot, and locking means pivoted to the closure and embodying a coin-receiving melnber provided with a coin-slot arranged for registration with said first-named coin-slot and with a coin-tube surrounding the same, said coin-slots being both arranged eccentrically with respect to the point of pivotal support of said locking means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses, this 7th day of September, 1900.

, HENRY ELLWOOD TITUS.

Witnesses:

M. R. ROCKWELL, RAYMOND I. BLAKESLEE. 

